Estrogen Exposure and Atherosclerosis in Postmenopausal Women

One hundred Spanish postmenopausal women accepted to be investigated for cardiovascular risk actors including clinical features, serum biochemical parameters, single nucleotide polymorphisms for estrogen receptor, and imaging parameters, carotid intima-media thickness (91 women) and coronary computed tomography (32 women). Multivariable analysis confirmed that both age and glucose level directly affected IMT. Estrogenic exposure, as measured by the allele associated with lower expression of the ER beta gene, was protective at the sinus and the wall. Findings at the coronary arteries, either moderate or high calcium index (CAC) and/or significant lumen stenosis were sporadic and did not allow for establishing association with any of the variables assessed.